INDIANAPOLIS >> Calvin Pryor says his dad instilled toughness in him at a young age.

“I used to fall to the ground, I thought I hurt myself, he told me get back up, keeping going. It caught up with me later in life,’’ the Louisville safety said on Sunday at the NFL Combine.

“I love the game of football and I was brought up on toughness. For the game of football you have to be tough, it’s a thinking game,’’ Pryor said.

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He is considered one of the top safety prospects for the NFL draft along with Alabama’s Ha Ha Clinton-Dix.

If you ask Pryor, he’s the best.

“I’m very confident in my game and my film speaks for itself,’’ Pryor said.

His versatility is key.

“All the different things I can do — I can play strong safety, free safety, I can come up and hit, I can cover, I’m a playmaker and a leader,’’ Pryor said.

If you ask Clinton-Dix, different answer.

“I play fast, I’m very physical, I’m not afraid to line up against the slot, I can do it all,’’ Clinton-Dix said.

“There’s a lot good, top prospects out there, but I think what separates me is the system I played in (at Alabama),’’ Clinton-Dix said. “... It took me the whole entire freshman year to learn that system. I think that’s what separates me.’’

He does give credit to Pryor for being a big hitter.

“C.P. is a great player,’’ Clinton-Dix said. “He plays fast, he’s always around the ball, he can hit, he’s a physical person. If I compare myself I’m as quick as him I can’t say I can hit like him he’s a big hitter, a great guy.’’

Safety is a position of need for the Lions. Pryor said e has not talked to them yet. Clinton-Dix said he thought he was scheduled to talk to Detroit.

Without Louis Delmas who was released, the Lions are looking for a starting safety whether in free agency or the draft. They also need safety depth. It’s definitely a position of need.

Florida State safety Terrence Brooks said he has not met Lions general manager Martin Mayhew, a former Florida State defensive back, but he has met with the team a couple of times.

“They seem interested so we’ll see where it goes from there,’’ Brooks said.

Brooks said two of the NFL defensive backs he watches closely are Earl Thomas and Patrick Peterson.

He said he’s talked to several teams.

“The teams that need safeties you kind of get a gist of those guys that are interested in you. Any team that wants to take a chance on me won’t be disappointed,’’ Brooks said.

About the Author

Paula Pasche is a longtime sports writer for The Oakland Press and blogs at http://oplions.blogspot.com/. Author of book, "100 Things Lions Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die." Follow on Tout and Twitter @paulapasche. Reach the author at paula.pasche@oakpress.com
or follow Paula on Twitter: @PaulaPasche.